Today in all school meeting, we celebrated the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The sixth grade worked to create a collage portrait of Dr. King and each student (K-8) contributed a written reflection on King's contributions. Each fifth grader contributed a revision of a letter he or she had written to King from the perspective of a participant in the Montgomery Bus Boycott or from the perspective of an individual in a crowd assembled outside King's bombed house. Below, you'll find the letters. I think the student work respectfully reflects age appropriate understanding of the complicated issues presented in The Peaceful Warrior and discussed in class.
Dear Dr. King.
When I first joined the Bus Boycott, I was excited. Now, I can see that it is no children’s game. When I heard your house was bombed, I was angry and scared at the same time. I picked up my gun and came to your house. When I got there, you were saying to put weapons away. Why?
The only way I can think of that non-violence will help is if the whites cease to be violent towards us. Even that is a gamble. Real change must begin in the minds of people.
I fear that some other blacks will not stay non-violent and that may result in violence. Whites are already harming, assaulting, and even killing blacks. I fear it will get much worse if black men and women become violent.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
We came to your house after the bombing. We brought weapons. We were just being protective. It was our first instinct. Non-violent protesting will work! We’ll keep at this no matter how much they hurt us.
I am worried, however, by the idea that we might not be able to stop ourselves from becoming violent. Some people ask why shouldn’t we be violent? The Jim Crow laws say separate but equal. The laws aren’t very equal.
I think non-violence can create positive change if we actually promise to commit to non-violence. Another important thing to remember is to only have reasonable requests and only have peaceful protests and marches.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
When I heard about the bomb that went off on your on your porch, I immediately went to your house like many other black men and women. I did not bring a weapon even though I was very tempted to. I have been walking to work every single day since the bus boycott began. I have seen buses go by and the most people I’ve seen in one bus are 3. We are doing very well in my perspective. The white people are getting angry and I can see it. As a black man, I am very proud to be part of this. It has brought confidence to our race.
The non-violence strategy is becoming harder and harder to keep up with after the bomb on your porch and other acts of violence that have happened. All of these stupid Jim Crow laws are becoming more annoying. For example, the “trumped up” charge that you had been charged with is very upsetting. We did that jail person right by scaring him. He led you out of jail so quickly!
I think that the non-violence has been doing us well. With the boycott and everything, we have been making the city of Montgomery furious. We shall keep this up and make them see that segregation laws are unjust. The NAACP, CORE, and SCLC have been strong supporters in the fight for equality.
I wish all the best for you and your family,
Yours sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
I don’t know what to do about the bus boycott. Buses are my only means of transportation. I don’t have a car or a bike and my work is too far away to walk. Also, nobody has offered me a ride. I can’t ride in a taxi either. It’s too expensive.
I work at a construction company called Joe’s Construction. I barely get paid enough to buy dinner for my family at night. Pease help me figure out another way to get to work so I can participate in the bus boycott.
Also, I need to ask you when and where your next speech is. I really want to see you speaking to our people. I was really motivated by your last speech in South Carolina. It was really beautiful!
From,
Dear Dr. King,
When I heard about the bus boycott, I wanted join in to make a point. I think that the boycott is a good way to develop the power to overcome segregation. It will be a good way to bring people together.
You have encouraged so many people to help that we could change our community. I think were making a difference every day.
I feel that my participation will be small but a big help to everyone. I hope that everyone can join in to help and we will defeat the segregation laws.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
I believe what you are doing is great. The bus boycott is peaceful. It is unfair that we are being arrested. The court is making laws that make us ride the bus. They suggest that we can’t use other forms of transportation. It should be illegal to say that if we use the bus we have to stand. I hope my participation in the boycott will help make the change.
Our non-violence may make white people see our cause and realize how they are treating us unfairly. Violence would make more hate and create wars we couldn’t win.
Non-violence will make change.
Non-violence could erupt into war if change doesn’t happen. Making boycotts and doing sit-ins and freedom rides may annoy the government, and people could resort to violence, but I believe we can win our rights through this form of protest.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
When your house got bombed, I heard the bomb explode. I ran outside of my home and over towards the loud sound. When I arrived, there was already a huge angry crowd of black men and women outside of your home. They were all shouting for justice and equal rights. Then, I started noticing how much damage the bomb had done to your home. I feel really sorry and scared for you.
I think that non-violence can make positive change. If we all commit to work together, black and white people, we’ll create a safe, equal, non-violent world. We’ll create a better world for our children and a future where black and white people can have the same rights and opportunities.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
In the past, I could handle sitting in the back of the bus and going through different entrances. However, after someone threw a bomb on your front porch, I blew up with anger. I couldn’t take the non-violence any more. I took my gun and went over to your house.
When I got there, I saw a crowd of people protesting with weapons in their hands. You came outside and told us to please bring our weapons home. You said that if we didn’t have weapons, not to seek to get them. Remember the words of Jesus “He who lives by the sword shall perish by the sword”.
There was a long silence. People slowly started to go back home to put their weapons where they had came from. The city of Montgomery went on to say bus boycotting is illegal. Hundreds of people got arrested. That made me really mad. I’m confused but I’ll listen to your advice.
From,
Dear Dr. King,
We have just been bailed out of the Birmingham jail by another group of activists. We’re just now heading to Tuscaloosa. We shouldn’t have to do this but the segregation laws are mean, unfair, and wrong. Who put this Jim Crow man in charge? We try to suppress our anger and violence but some slip. Some we can catch but some hit hard.
If all of us erupt into violence, we’ll all be jailed! As black participants the bus boycott, we promise to stay strong. Jim Crow was terribly wrong. In time we’ll show him his failure!
Although we sometimes slip, nonviolence is right. I recon we’ll continue to protest in violent places so we can show them we are determined. We’re not different at all.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
I feel the bus boycott is dangerous but the right thing to do. I also feel it would be good if we could all turn down the tension a little. What I mean is, we should protest a little bit less often than we do now. This could help prevent people from getting hurt.
Non-violence is a really good plan. Our protests are calm and nice. It’s good to use non-violent methods so we can come together to have equal rights. It’s easier to go up to some one if they are not scared. I think this protest will make a positive change.
I think if we make others angry, they might erupt into violence. For example, if we insist on using the white entrance on a bus, in a store, or in a restaurant, we might be beaten. This is a heavy price to pay for equality but I understand why many people feel it is necessary.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
When I joined the Civil Rights movement, I did not think as many people would suffer the consequences. I do see a change though. I am happy that people are starting to treat us as equals.
You are right. Non-violence can make a change. I think that if we are violent, the white people will be violent towards us. We won’t get anywhere with violence. We would just create a circle of killing and violence. We need to stay non-violent no matter what is thrown at us.
I am surprised that after Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, there is still prejudice in America. However, soon we will be free. Free from slavery and free from threats. Free at last, free at last, thank god Almighty we will be free at last.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr. King,
I was outside when your home when your house got bombed. I am glad that none of your family members were hurt. My family and I are participating in the bus boycott. We believe blacks should be able to sit wherever they want. I think the segregation laws are unfair.
I think the peaceful bus protest is justified. It is astonishing that the white authorities are spraying black protesters with fire hoses.
I am afraid that the peaceful protestors could easily fight back with violence because they are scared and angry.
Sincerely,
Dear Dr, King,
Rosa Parks is the person who started this whole bus boycott and it has been successful. It’s hard to believe a law was made to make the bus boycott illegal. We should not fight this battle with guns and knives. We should use non-violence so we can fight for our rights but not kill. If the while people fight back with guns and weapons, we will want to do the same. However, we must be non violent even if we have to pay the price.
Why should we have to follow laws that segregate us? We should have equal rights. We should be able to stay at the same hotels as whites. We should not have to give up our seats on the bus. The whites have power but we will protest and fight with non-violence until we have equal rights.
Sincerely,
